It's Not Supposed To End This Way . . .

Good Friday Reflections + Book Bub Deal $0.99! + sneak peek

That’s the first line in the book that comes after Saints & Monsters. It’s a universal feeling. That job slipping through the cracks, the chronic illness sapping energy, or the broken relationship that you can’t put back together. We expect a certain ending—HEA (happily ever after, please!!!)

I imagine Good Friday felt that way to Jesus’ disciples. It was the “All Is Lost” moment, the darkness before the dawn. But they didn’t know that. It’s so easy to see a snapshot in time and assume it’s the end. I felt a little that way when things went down with my publisher and I was threatened for asking about a rights reversion. Was it the end of my writing dreams? Ah, I messed up! Should’ve gone with a bigger publisher, should’ve found an agent again, should’ve . . .

It’s not the end, my friends. However that snapshot looks for you, it’s not the end.
That’s the point of Easter.
He is Risen. It’s only the beginning.

BEGINNING AGAIN ISN’T EASY. So many Japanese stories tackle this theme. The keep going, don’t stop theme like "There’s no shame in falling down! True shame is to not stand up again!" – Kuroko’s Basketball

Two months after I got my rights back, my book is now an award finalist for 3 awards including the Wishing Shelf Award and the Realm Award. To an author who has been to Mt. Doom and back again, this means so much! My 進むsusumu get-back-up-push-forward journey looks something like this:

1. Got back my book rights & joined the Authors Guild

2. Invested time & money in my writing (new book cover, recruited an ARC team, ISBNs, chapter header art, proofreading, new formats . . . its a lot)

3. Relaunched a book in 1 month 🤪

4. Applied for a Book Bub Featured Deal (coined as the holy grail of marketing)
   
   🎉 I WAS SELECTED FOR A BOOK BUB FEATURED DEAL on my first try! 🎉

   

WHAT IS A BOOK BUB FEATURED DEAL (BBFD)?
It means the ebook will be only $0.99 from April 19th to April 23rd. It means Book Bub will blast Saints & Monsters out to about a million readers and hopefully it will find more audience. It means this book getting a second chance ✨

***The more sales Saints & Monsters has, the more likely I can apply for foreign rights/translation or audio for this book and future books

BBFD isn’t a magic wand, sometimes it flops or you just break even. It costs a whopping $250 which makes it feel like a BIG gamble. But this is me stepping up to the plate and giving this story its best shot.

Would you help by sharing about this sale? Send the graphic to a friend or forward this newsletter? If we hit 1,000 sales during the featured deal, I’ll randomly gift one subscriber a limited signed copy of Saints & Monsters from my original publisher copies with a surprise bonus!

“WORTHY DOESN’T MEAN PERFECT.”
~ Saints and Monsters

➡️ Have you already read Saints and Monsters? Please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads It means the world to indie authors!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS 🖤

Both of these authors encouraged me in the indie journey AND are incredible writers. Erin became a friend through this journey, and I’m so thankful God can use hard things to bring blessings. Kayla shares her indie career with transparency and that has been an encouragement. Inspired by her, I set out to request a Book Bub Deal, and got it!
Links to their books and IG below ⬇️

THE BETRAYAL OF EDEN by Erin Phillips a clean YA retelling filled with suspenseful mystery, shattered dreams, and dire consequences, the first book in this sweeping reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo, invites you into the resplendent world of Cartier City and will make you question everything you know about happy endings. (I loved this book and can’t recommend it enough!) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WELL OF DREAMS by Kayla Ann is a YA dystopian (if you liked Hunger Games & need more dystopian vibes for teens, here it is!) Larissa only ever wanted to make her monthly quota and protect her illegal second-born sister, but that’s not easy to do when the goddesses of fate keep sending dreams that bleed into her reality . . . (This books to read pile! I’ve heard amazing things and it has a 4.49 rating!)

May you have grit and grace to chase your dreams and enjoy the small things in life 🖤 (and at times, be silly and wear a Luffy hat)

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